Toyota Canada to help more Canadian youth learn proper driving skills through expanded kartSTART program

Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax to host unique youth driving program this summer

 

TORONTO, ON., (May 10, 2013) – The innovative youth driving program kartSTART – made possible through the support of Toyota Canada – is expanding its reach this summer and will now help more than 1,000 children across five provinces.

 

“It's important to understand safe driving techniques early and to apply them intuitively," said Sandy Di Felice, Director, External Affairs, Toyota Canada Inc. “We’re pleased that the program is expanding to engage more young Canadians.”

 

kartSTART is a unique driving education program designed to provide children and their families with a real-world understanding of the physics behind driving a motorized vehicle. One-day courses are offered with expert instructors for children between the ages of 8-16, where youth learn by driving in go-karts themselves – a driving experience that is the first for most.

 

“It’s important to stress how important our safety through education program is,” said kartSTART administrator Russ Bond. “Every youth that goes through our program gets a fundamental understanding of how vehicle dynamics work and they experience this in vehicles that fit them – go-karts. This is what makes the program so special.”

 

In addition to the go-kart driving, participants are also mentored in the latest safety developments in Toyota vehicles including Toyota’s renowned Star Safety System™ with active and passive safety technologies. Toyota’s Star Safety System™ features Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

 

2013 Program Schedule

 

kartSTART Chilliwack, British Columbia

July 16
July 17

July 18
Location: Greg Moore Raceway

 

kartSTART Calgary, Alberta

July 22

July 23

July 24

Location: Calgary Kart Club

 

kartSTART Innisfil, ON

July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
Location: Sunset Speedway

 

kartSTART Montreal, QC

August 7

August 8

August 9

Location: Autodrome St-Eustache

 

kartSTART Halifax, Nova Sotia

August 12
August 13
August 14
Location: Scotia Speed World

 

For more information on kartSTART or to register for the program please visit:www.kartSTART.ca.

 

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota, Lexus and Scion cars, SUVs and trucks. Toyota offers the most fuel efficient passenger car fleet in Canada, led by the industry’s largest selection of advanced technology vehicles such as the Toyota Prius. With a rich history of respect for the environment, Toyota Canada Inc. and its Dealerships align with like-minded organizations including Evergreen and through the Toyota Canada Foundation, Earth Day Canada, Scientists in School and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), to make things better where we live, work and play. TCI’s head office is in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver.

 

-30-